UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Israel's Expulsion from UEFA Competitions

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to expel Israel from all its sporting competitions, following the killing of former Palestinian national team star Suleiman al-Obeid as part of the ongoing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip. Albanese made the call in a post published on the X platform, citing the continued targeting of Palestinian athletes and the need for UEFA to take a firm stance against Israel. The killing of al-Obeid has sparked widespread condemnation, with UEFA mourning his death and referring to him as the "Pele of Palestine".

Key Takeaways:

• UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has called for Israel's expulsion from UEFA competitions due to the killing of Palestinian athletes.
• Suleiman al-Obeid, a former Palestinian national team star, was killed while waiting for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, along with 39 other athletes, scouts, and youth.
• Since the beginning of the "genocide" in the Gaza Strip, over 656 athletes, scouts, and youth have been martyred.
• Al-Obeid, dubbed the "Palestinian Pele", played for the Services Club of the Beach and Al-Amari Club in the West Bank Premier League, and scored his first international goal for the Palestine national team in 2010.
• The killing of al-Obeid and other Palestinian athletes has sparked widespread condemnation, including from UEFA, which has referred to him as the "Pele of Palestine".
• UEFA has been called upon to take a firm stance against Israel due to its continued targeting of Palestinian athletes.

Statistics:

• 39 athletes, scouts, and youth were martyred in the past month alone.
• Over 656 athletes, scouts, and youth have been martyred since the beginning of the "genocide" in the Gaza Strip.
• Suleiman al-Obeid scored his first international goal for the Palestine national team against Yemen in the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship.

Sources:

• "The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Palestine, Francesca Albanese, called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to expel Israel from all its sporting competitions, following the killing of former Palestinian national team star Suleiman al-Obeid as part of the "genocide" in the Gaza Strip." (Maan News Agency, 10 Aug 2025)
• "Thirty-nine athletes, scouts, and youth were martyred in the past month alone, bringing the number of martyrs from the sports, youth, and scouting movement to more than 656 since the beginning of the genocide." (Maan News Agency, 10 Aug 2025)
• "Farewell, Suleiman Al-Obeid, the Pele of Palestine." (UEFA Twitter account, 10 Aug 2025)